The Washington critic., 1887-05-28
WASHINGTON, MAY 90, 1887.
SALOON AND ANrI-sALooN.


The Republican mass meeting held in
Cooper Union, New York, Wednesday
evening, under the auspices of the Ma
tional Anti Saloon Committee, was emi.
nently respectable In size and character.
Ex.Judge Noah Davis presided and had
no excuse for not presiding well, for he
was ably assisted by one hundred and
six vice presidents
There was no special necessity for
this extraordinary number, but 1t was
important to place before the country
the names of as many prominent Re.
publIcans as possible who are under.
stood to be committed to the cause Of
temperance inside, rather than outside
of Republican party lines.
Judge Davis, besides being president
Of the meeting, was the principal
speaker, and In the course Of his re.
marks he gave his hearers to under
stand beyond all possibility of question
that the anti. saloon movement Is not
undertaken with view to the organi-
zation of any party hostile to the Repub-
lican party or not part and parcel OF 1t.
Such also was the tenor of the speech of
ex-Secretary Window, which followed.
1.-The Republican party is the party of
great moral IDEAS" said the latter; at
thrives in the atmosphere Of reform"
Both speakers virtually assumed that
the Democratic party Is thoroughly in
sympathy with the rum selling interest,
and that the cause of temperance has
nothing to hope for in that direction.
A number of letters were read ex-
pressing approval of the movement.
Senators Edmunds. Wilson of Iowa,
Blair, Hoar and Morrill, so expressed
themselves. Mr.. Edmunds venturcd
the statement that whatever is done In
the next twenty. five years toward the
abatement Of the saloon system would
all be done through the Republican
party, although the Republican party
has not succeeded yet in banishing the
saloon system from Mr.. Edmunds' end
of the Capitol.
The resolutions adopted are the same
as those agreed upon by the Anti.
Saloon Republican Conference held In
Chicago last year, and, among other
things, declare In favor of the absolute
inhibition of the manufacture and sale
Of intoxicating liquors In the District
Of Columbia and in all the Terri.
tories.
But the meeting has a political, as
well as moral, significance. The main
purpose Of the movement, thus
adroitly inaugurated, is to discourage
and check the growth of the Prohibi.
tion party to hold Republicans to their
allegiance and prevent defections that,
in certain localities aud under certain
circumstances, might work to the
detriment of Republican candidates
and possibly endanger the general sue.
cess of the party. This, indeed, is
about all the movement amounts to.
There are honest men In it, but 1t Is
not an honest movement. 1t is merely
move in the political game; and 1t Is
insincere in the assumption that the
Republican party stands alone in the
country as the exponent of temperance
reform.
Under Democratic leadership the
cause is gaining more rapidly In the
South than 1t is under Republican
leadership in the North. Itis reform
that may divide-that probably will
diyide-the old parties, as is notably
the case in Texas, but 1t can never be
come the exclusive monopoly Of
either.
1t Is all nonsense, therefore, to tall
of this question, as was done at th,
Cooper Union meeting, as having any
analogy to the old sectional issue o
slavery. Public sentiment all over tn,
country Is becoming more and NOR
dead set against the evils of the liquo
traffic every year--a public sentimeu
irrespective Of party-and all partie
will contribute to the suppression o
these evils.
AS for the Prohibitionists, they will
continue TO do their full duty, skir
mishipg well to the front, consenting t.
no alliances that will impair the indie
pendence of their organization, aud re
slsting all propositions to sell out TO
the benefit of intriguing politicians Il
the rear.
The visiting military have had al
together delightful week. Their
have been vicissitudes In the weather
to be sure. but these are characteristic
of a soldiers life. Rain as well as sun
shine, winds as well as clam:
cold as well as heat, thunde
and lightning, with an occasions
freshet and blizzard, ARE all necessary t
give service In the field its proper relisi
On the whole, our guests will bear ava
with them the most agreeable impre
sions both of the climate and the hosp
tality Of the National Capital.
REV. T. DEWITT TALMAGE, tina
valiant Soldier of the Cross, wi
preach at the National Drill ground
Tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clocl
There is no clergyman in the COUNT
so well equipped with the mental an
physical ammunition to make himse
effectively heard by large out.dot
audience. Besides being an orator, |
is true Christian gentleman and
broad gauged patriot.
If AMERICANS would forego for
time their senseless prejudice in fave
OF foreign wines, especially stlll-wln'
much of which imported into To
country is M adulterated mixture I
stimulating compounds Of unhoalth
ingredients-aud use instead the nati'